Expanding sleeve for loop drier girts



A. o. HURXTHAL 2,436,719

EXPANDING SLEEVE FOR L OOP DRIER GIRTS Filed Feb. 9, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 24, 1948.

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EXPANDING SLEEVE FOR LOOP DRIER GIRTS Filed Feb. 9, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 lig@ Feb.24, 1948. A, 0, HURXTHAL 2,436,719

EXPANDING SLEEVE FOR LOOP DRIER GIRTS Filed Feb. 9, 1945 '6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 24, 1948.

y* l U L A. O. HURXTHAL EXPANDING SLTEEVE FOR LOOP DRIER GIRTS Filed Feb. 9,' 1945 6 sheets-sheet `4 Feb. 24, 1948. A. o. HuRxTHAL 2,435,719

' v Exmnnme sLEvE Fon Loo? Dama Gnus Filed Feb. 9, 1945 6 sheets-sheet s Feb. 24, 1948.

A; o. HuRxTHAL EXPANDING SLEEVE FOR LOOP DRIER GIRTS Filed Feb. 9, 1 945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Psienfed ret. 24, 194s mamme stam Fon mor musa Gm'rs Alphen o. Humbul, wynente, Pa, signor to Proctor & Schwartz, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation oi Pennsylvania Application February 9, 1945, Serial No. 576,951

` 6 Claims. (Cl. 26--63) This invention relates to apparatus for handling and controlling a relatively wide single web, or simultaneously controlling a plurality oi? laterally contiguous narrower strips of textile fabrics or other goods of similar character, during drying or other processing of the goods, while the goods is arranged in long depending loops hanging over and between laterally spaced parallel poles or glrts moving concurrently through a drying or other processing chamber.

In some instances the loop-supporting poles or.

girts are rotated continuously, or intermittently, while en route through the processing chamber, for the purpose of discouraging or preventing the formation of what are known as transverse pole marks on the goods. These pole marks become apparent when no relative movement between the goods and the supporting surfaces of the poles is effected during -the drying of the goods while hanging over the poles.

During the initial formation of the goods into the loops, and during subsequent rotations of the poles, with the festooned goods thereon, there are times when longitudinally extending wrinkles, folds, laps, or creases are formed in the goods, which if permitted to remain throughout the rest of the drying or processing period, form longitudinal streaks in the goods.

Prior to the present invention, attempts have been made to discourage, prevent and Vremove all laterally overlapping folds, wrinkles, etc., in adjacent portions oi the goods which cause the above-noted longitudinal streaking of the goods during drying etc.

One vknown apparatus designed for overcoming the longitudinal marking or streaking kof the goods as caused by lateral wrinkling, overlapping or creasing of the goods involves the use of what are known as "sectional expandable poles for supporting the goods in iestoons during drying or other processing thereof.

The aforesaid sectional expandable pole of the prior art consists of a plurality of axially aligned sections disposed with the adjacent ends of the pole sections in axially abutting relation to each other, with a pair of diametrically opposite narrow portions oi one section extending axially therefrom into corresponding slots formed inthe adjacent end of the next section, in so-called telescoping relation to each other.

as the poles advance horizontally through the drying chamber, the adjacent sections of each pole are vgradually moved axially, relative to each other, outwardly, toward the opposite ends of the pole. and the irictional contact of the relatively ymoving sectionsy with these portions of the goods respectively lying thereon produces a leveling or evening of the fabric as the sections of the pole separate; however, as the sections move apart, narrow crevices which develop into relatively wide open spaces are formed in the surface of the pole over which the goods hangs, and the goods, due to the weight of the hanging loops or festoons is drawn into these recesses. The falling of the goods into these crevices and spaces has a tendency to cause the formation of other marks in the goods as it is being dried.

One object of the present invention is to provide an axially expandable and contractible pole or girt, for loop or festoon drlers, wherein the entire cylindrical goods-supporting surface of the girt will at all times present substantially uniform continuity ydevoid of all deep crevices or wide open spaces into which the goods could be rdrawn by the vweight of the loops hanging thereon throughout the whole of the range of axial dimensional variability of the girt, i. e., while in its fully contracted, expanded and all intermediate stages. K

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting pole or girt for loop driers which shall include an inner rigid support and an outer relatively movable sleeve of woven, knitted orbraided construction capable of axial expansion and contraction withrespect to the axis of the inner support. The interbraided construction Iis preferable for the reason that pivotal movement between the interbraided strands at the crossing of these strands, at multitudinous spots distributed uniformly over the entire area of the sleeve, provides uniform continuity over the entire area of the goods-supporting surface, without creating detrimental crevices or wide open spaces therein, at any part of the range oi dimensional variability of the sleeve.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for eiecting the axial expansion and contraction of the sleeve by which the axial expansion may be effected gradually and but once in a single passage of the girt in one direction through the drying chamber; or to provide mechanism by which expansion and contraction of the girt may be repeated a number of times in a single unidirectional passage of the girt through the drying chamber, with the speed of the expansion and contraction uniform; or to provide means whereby the speed of the expansion may be slow, while the speed of contraction may be relatively quicker during repeated axial actuawhereby the formation of girt markswillb pre-V vented regardless of whether the girt revolves or remains stationary as it travels through the drying chamber with the goods lying:- quiescently y t,

' prevented by`pins or other fastening means 6.

thereon.

The construction andoperation ofthe deviceV .As shown more particularly in Figs. 4, and 6, the preferred form of girt A of the present invention comprises a rigid pole I which may be of solid or hollow construction, and formed of any suitable material.' In the present instance, the girt pole l is of metallic tubular construction and is provided at each of its opposite ends with a solid plug 2 welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereii'iff- ,.:Each' plug 2 isprovided with an axial trunnion'f'andthe trunnions 3, 3, at the opposite ends respectively of each girt, are mounted in side links I, 4 of conveyer chains 5, 5. Rotawill be more readily understood`fp`onreference ff to the accompanying drawings of'whi'ch:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional elevation of a loop drier involving '-the-use of girts constructed and operated in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation takenron theline 2--2;"Fig. li and showing the goods-supporting, sleeve of one of the girts in its axially contracted condition;l

Fig. 3is a. transverse sectional elevation, slmilar to Fig. 2, and taken on the line 3'-3. Fig. 1, with the goods-supporting sleeve in its axially expanded condition;

Fig-4 is an enlarged detail view of one endvof the girt showing the contracted sleeve of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of one end of the girt showing the expanded sleeve of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the girt showing the sleeve expanded as in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic pian view illustrating a pair of diverging control tracks for eecting gradual single expansion of the girt sleeve in a single passage of each girt through the drier;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to Fig. 7, wherein the control tracks are undulated to effect repeated expanding and contracting of the girt sleeves at uniform speeds during one passage of each girt through the drying chamber;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating a control track arrangement wherein the girt sleeves are slowly and gradually expanded and then quickly retracted;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation illustrating one means for effecting complete intermittent rotations of the girts during their goods-carrying passage through the drying chamber;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to, Fig. 10 showing means for intermittently rotating the girts onequarter of a turn at a time;

tion ofthetrunnions 3 in the chain links 4 is l Encircling the rigid tubular girt pole I, and extending substantially from end to end thereof.

V-is-tlie*axially"expandable and contractible sleeve I0 upon which' the present invention is primarily predicated. HTAs. shown in Fig. 4 the sleeve II) is Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of girt sleeve as includinga central rigid portion intermediate the axially expandable and contractible opposite end portions thereof;

. Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional elevation illustrating a modified form of mechanism for effecting longitudinal expansion and contraction of the goods-supporting sleeve of the girt; y,

.-.F ig.l 14 an v enlarged longitudinal sectional 'ew `howing a modified form of sleeve construcionQ- lwitlithe sleeve in its contracted state;

Fig. 15is a View simlarto Fig. 14 but-showing .fthe modified sleeve in its expanded state;

Fig. l18 is a transverse sectional elevation taken fen' the une Iii-la, Fig. 1v.

of interbraided construction composed of a plurality 'of ribbon-like strands loa extending in spiral convolutlons'around the rigid girt pole I in one `direction and interbraided with a second series of ribbon-like strands Ib arranged in spiral convolutions extending around the rigid girt in the opposite direction.

A As shown in Fig. 6 the sleeve Il) is normally, and particularly when in its axially contracted state, of greater diameter than the rigid pole I and is free to rotate thereon about the axis of said pole.

The sleeve I0 is secured at each of its opposite ends to a collar II and the collars. Il, Il are mounted on the rigid pole I to effect longitudinal expansion and contraction of the sleeve I0. Prefy erably the ends of the sleeves I0 are rigidly secured, as` by .soldering or the equivalent, to their respective collars II to anchor all of the ends of the interbraded strands Illa andV Illb to said collars;-

In the present instance the individual oppositely extending spirally interlaced or interbraided ribbon-likek strands Ilia and Inb of the tubular fabricated axially expandable and contractible sleeve IIl are composed of a series of individual laments IIld, IIld laid in substantially parallel side by side abuttingrelation to each other in each strand.

The filaments IIId may be composed of any suitable and durable material, preferably a noncorrosive material such as copper, aluminum, nickel, stainless steel or other base metal or metal alloy; or the filaments may be composed of fibreglass or an extruded plastic material fusible at a higher temperature than would normally be encountered in the drying or processing of the webs or strip goods which would be hung in loops over and be supported by the sleeves Ill.

The prime requisite of the material of which the sleeves I0 and their component parts are made is that the material shall be non-absorbent of and non-affected by the dye-stuff or other chemicals used in the processing of the webs or strip goods either before the goods is hung over the sleeves III or While the goods is supported posite directions, at the opposite ends respectively of the sleeve I0, on and with respect -to the rigid pole I, and rotation of the sleeve I0 relative to the rigid pole I, are eiected, in one assegna form ci? the invention, by a gear I3 rigidly secured to each cellar i I.

in each instance the gear I3 is of greater diameter thanr the sleeve It and is controlled, as to axial and rotary movement relativeto the rigid pole I, in a manner and by means hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. e, when the sleeve III is contracted axially, the pitch of the convolutions of the spirals in which the strands Ia and IIIb extend, are at a steeper angle with respect to the axis of the sleeve and the rigid pole I than the angles of the convolutions ofthe spirals when the sleeve III is axially extended or expanded as shown in Fig. 5, and it will be noted that the interbraided strands Illa and IIIb undergo a relative pivotal action at the points Ic where any one strand crosses another". In this way the entire area of the peripheral surface of the sleeve I@ remains substantially the same throughout the full range of axial expansion and contraction of the sleeve, without creating any crevices or openings of suiiicient area to permit the material to eater and eiect marking of the goods resting thereon.

The interstices of the interbraided fabrication render the sleeve III relatively porous and subject to the passage of air and moisturev from the interior to the exterior of the sleeve, and vice versa.

Ehe operating gears I3, I3, at the opposite ends respectively of the tubular sleeves I Il, I 0, are adapted to run in tracks '20, 20 which extend along the opposite sides of a portion of the course to be traversed by the girts I and their encircling sleeves III, III.

The tracks 20, 20 comprise upstanding side flanges 2l, 2i, providing a trough 22 therebetween in which are mounted continuous or interrupted gear racks 23, 23 for engagement with the teeth of the gears I3, I3 as the'gears move longitudinally of the tracks 2li.

Expansion and contraction of the sleeves III are effected by the side faces of the gears I3 making contact alternately with the inner anges 2I or the outer ilanges 2I of the tracks 20; and rotation of the sleeves I with respect to the girts I is effected by the teeth of the gears I3 meshing with the gear racks 23 as the girts travel longitudinally of the tracks 20.

The side chains 5, 5, which are made up of the chain links d, d, by which the opposite ends of the girts I are supported and conveyed longitudinally of the tracks 2li, are also provided with rollers 2d which ride on uniformly laterally spaced supporting and guiding rails 25. The tracks are held in predetermined relation to the rails 25 by means of brackets 26, as shown in Figs. 2

'and 3.

As shown in Fig. 1 the tracks 20 and rails 25 are mounted horizontally in the upper portion of a suitable drying or other processing chamber te, and extend longitudinally therethrough, substantiaily viroin one end to the other thereof,

The chains 5, which carry the girt poles I and their encircling sleeves III, pass around suitable guide sprockets 23, 25 mounted within the drier 35, adjacent the opposite ends thereof, one or more of said sprockets 29 being driven from any suitable source of power to eiect movement of the carrying chains 5, 5, and consequently the girts I and sleeves III, within the drier chamber 3d.

Any suitable means may be provided for forming the goods :c into iestoons or loops X., over and te between the sleeves I carried by the girts I, and for removing the goods from said loops at the opposite ends respectively oi the drier 30.

Any suitable means may be provided for circuv lating heatedair or other gaseous processing medium within the chamber 30, as the iestoons X advance therethrough from one end to the opposite end thereof.

As shown in Fig. 7, the tracks 20 may be disposed in diverging relation to each other, from the entrance end of the chamber 33 toward the exit end thereof, by which the inner rails 2l, 2l,

of the tracks 20 will engage the inner faces ofv 20a, 20a for eifecting repeated uniform axial expansion and contraction movements of the sleeves III, during a single passage of the girts and sleeves in one direction through the drier.

As shown in Fig. 9, the sleeves III may be gradually expanded and quickly contracted a number of times during one passage in a single direction of the sleeves IQ through the processing chamber. In this instance the inner flanges 2lb of the tracks 20h may be of an interrupted character, to eiect gradual outward movement oi the gears I3 and then completely release said gears, whereby the sleeves III may contract under an inherent tendency of the sleeves to contract. due to their interbraided spring-like nature.

Fig. 10 illustrates the gears I3 and the gear racks 23 as being of the interrupted type, by which intermittent single full-revolution rotations oi the sleeves III are elected with respect to the rigid inner girt.

Fig. l1 illustrates means for rotating the sleeves I0 with respectl to the rigid girts I to the extent lof a quarter of a turn each time, and wherein the gears I3 are replaced by rectangular gear plates I3a having diagonal slots 3| 3l extending radially inward from each of the four corners thereof, to be entered by pins 32 located at relatively spaced points along the tracks 20c, the gear plates i3d being provided with ilat surfaces 33 adapted to slide along flat plain surfaces 38 of the rails 20c and prevent rotation of the sleeves as the girts advance through the drying chamber, intermediate the turning pins 32, 32.

As shown in Fig.. l2, the sleeve IIIa may be provided with a central plain portion 35, with an expandable and contractible portion 3s, 5G at each of the opposite ends thereof to which the operating gears Iiib, I5?) are respectively attached rangement is adapted for use when two strips mi, :cI are laid side by side on the girts to travel simultaneously through the processing chamber. The adjacent edges er marginal portions of the two strips xl, :DI are adapted to lie on the plain portion 35 of the sleeve with the remainder of the width of each strip lying on the expandable and contractible portions 35, 36 respectively of the sleeve IIIa. I

As shown in Fig. 13, axial contraction oi the sleeve Ib may be 'assisted by complementary means in the form of a spring 3l enclosed within the rigid girt pole Ia and attached at its opposite ends to spools 33 respectively located inside the 7 glrt pole adjacent the opposite endsthereoL The spools 38. in each instance, may be connected by a pin 39 to a non-rotatable collar 40 slidably mounted on the outside of the girt pole la. At one end of the collar Ila, to which the end of the sleeve 10b is attached. the collar Ha may be provided with an operating gear i3 or 13a, as previously described, which is rotatably mounted on the girt la, between the non-rotatable collar 40 and a second non-rotatable collar 4I, which latter is connected to the internal spool' 38 by a pin 42. The pin 42 is adapted to rotatably support a roller 43 operable in a track 20e, or on the track 20D as illustrated in Fig. 9, by which the axial expansion of the sleeve Hlb may be effected. The track 20e may be provided with the dat surfaces 34 and the turning pins 32 for engagement with the turning gears |3a as shown in Fig. 11. Connection between the internal spool 38 and the external collars 40 and 4| is established by the pins 39 and 42 extending through slots 43 and 44 formed in the tubular girt la.

As shown in Figs. 14, and 16, the sleeve Hic may be composed of a metal or plastic tube provided with transverse slots 45, 45 extending around only part of the complete circumference of the sleeve, with solid connecting portions 46 therebetween, alternate slots 45 being cut at 90 to the intermediate slots 45, and with the solid connecting portions 4B disposed in circumferentially staggered relation to each other. This construction provides for axial expansion of the sleeve flic, as illustrated in Fig. 15, and the resilient character of the material of which the sleeve Ille is formed will inherently effect axial contraction of the sleeve IUc to its normal state shown in Fig. 14.

As shown in Figs. 17 and 18 the expandable and contractible element id, instead of encircling the rigid girt pole Id is adapted for planetary movement about the axis of the glrt pole Id, to pick the goods r2 off the girt pole ld progressively, from one side of the girt, and to lay the goods back on the girt pole id as the expandable and contractible element 10d passes around to the opposite side of the girt pole ld. While the expandable and contractible element Ilid is supporting the goods :r2 above the girt hole id (Fig. 18) axial expansion of the element Illd is eflected to remove wrinkles from the goods rc2.

As shown in Fig. 1'1 the girt pole Id is supported against rotation by the side conveyer chains 5, through the trunnions 3d. Rgidly secured to the trunnions 3d is a pair of collar cams 41, 41 which engage axially aligned pins 48, 48 extending in opposite directions from the plane of the operating gear i3d, in which said pins are mounted. As the gear i3d engages the gear rack 23d, along the path of movement of the girt Id, the gear i3d is rotated by the rack 23d and at the same time is shifted laterally by action of the pins 48, 48 operating against and between the cam surfaces 41, 41. The timing is such that when the expandable and contractible element Id is in its lowermost position with respect to the girt, in its planetary movement about the axis of the grt Id, and wherein the expandable and contractible element ld is free from all contact with the goods m2, the cams 41, 41 will move the gears I3d inwardly causing contraction of the element Itid for subsequent expansion by said cams as the element 10d continues its planetary movement about the grt pole ld and picks the goods m2 o1! the girt pole Id as previously noted.

It will be understood that there is one of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 17 at each end of each of the girt poles ld and in order to prevent sagging of the expandable and contractible element lod, intermediate the gears i3d, i3d located respectively at the opposite ends of the girt pole Id, said gears are connected by a telescoping rod structure 50 mounted within the tubular element 10d, with one element 50a of the telescoping rod 50 rigidly secured to one of the gears i3d and the second element 50h of said telescoping rod 50 secured to the operating gear ld located at the opposite end of the girt pole Id.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dewrinkling festooned web and strip goods, which comprises a girt for supporting said goods, including a rigid rectilinear body element, an axially expandable and contractible tubular element immediately surrounding said rigid body element and operable intermediate said body element and said goods in a direction transversely of said goods and axially of said girt, means for rotating said expandable and contractible element about the axis of said girt, means for expanding said expandable and contractible element axially for spreading said goods smoothly on said girt, and means for advancing said elements laterally during said axial expansion and rotation of said expandable and contractible element relative to said body element.

2. A girt element comprising a pair of axially aligned unitary axially expandable and contractible fabricated tubes each formed of oppositely extending spirally interlaced dat strands respectively composed of a plurality of parallel laterally abutting filaments, a non-expandable cylindrical element intermediate and axially aligned with and rigidly secured to adjacent ends of said fabricated tubes and therewith collectively affording a uniform cylindrical goods-supporting surface throughout the full range of axial dimensional variability of said tube.

3. A girt element comprising a pair of axially aligned unitary axially expandable and contractible fabricated tubes each formed of oppositely extending spirally interlaced at strands respectively composed of a plurality of parallel laterally abutting filaments, a non-expandable cylindrical element intermediate and axially aligned with and rigidly secured to adjacent ends of said fabricated tubes and therewith collectively aiording a uniform cylindrical goods-supporting surface throughout the full range of axial dimensional variability o'f said tube, and means secured to the remote ends of said tubes for eieeting axial expansion and contraction thereof.

4. Apparatus for dewrinkling festooned web and strip goods, which comprises a girt for supporting said goods, including a rigid rectilinear body element, an axially expandable and con- -tractible tubular element immediately surrounding said rigid body element operable intermediate said body element and said goods in a direction transversely of said goods and axially of said girt, means for axially expanding said expandable and contractible element to spread said goods smoothly on said girt, and means for advancing said elements laterally during said exial expansion of said expandable and contractible element relative to said body element.

` 5. Apparatus for dewrinkling festooned web and strip goods, which comprises a girt for supporting said goods including a rigid rectilinear 9 body element, a pair oi axially aligned unitary axially expandable and contractible tubular elements surrounding said rigid body element, a non-expandable tubular element intermediate and axially aligned with and rigidly secured to adjacent ends of said tubular elements and forming therewith a cylindrical goods-supporting surface, means associated with said pair of expandable and contractible tubular elements operable' to eiiect axial expansion thereof for spreadingv said goods smoothly on said girt, and means for advancing the girt laterally during said axial expansion and contraction of said pair of tubular elements. Y

6. Apparatus for dewrinkling festooned web and strip goods, which comprises a girt for supporting said goods including a rigid rectilinear body element, a pair of axially aligned unitary axially expandable and contractible tubular elements surrounding said rigid body element. a n

non-expandable tubular element intermediate and axially aligned with and rigidly secured to adjacent' ends of said tubular elements andforxning therewith a cylindrical goods-supporting surface, means for rotating the tubular elements as a unit about the axis of said body element,`mech and contractible tubular elements operable to eifect axial expansion thereof for spreading goods smoothly on said girt, and means for advancing the girt laterally during said rotation and axial expansion of said tubular elements relative to said rigid body element.`

`marinus o. HURXTHAL. aEFEnENoEs CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: a

UNITED STATES PATENTS Gates et ai. Nov. 5,1940

anism associated withy said pair` of expandable 

